Senate Sends President a Bill to Extend Iran Sanctions
The Senate on Dec. 1 unanimously voted to pass H.R. 6297, sending the Iran Sanctions Extension Act (here) to President Barack Obama for final consideration. The bill would reauthorize Iran sanctions rolled back by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which are set to expire at the end of this year, and would ensure that the U.S. could bring back sanctions on Iran if the nation breaks its JCPOA obligations. “The House and the Senate’s broad, bipartisan vote to extend the Iran Sanctions Act demonstrates that the United States Congress is serious about reserving the right to credibly snapback sanctions on Iran should it violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Ben Cardin, D-Md., said in a statement (here). "These are the very sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table, and their extension is a key element in holding Iran accountable." Cardin said he looks forward to working with Republicans in 2017 on legislation that would strengthen congressional oversight of the JCPOA.
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White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Dec. 1 said the president will "take a look" at the legislation, while emphasizing that the Obama administration already has "substantial authority" to impose sanctions against Iran over a ballistic missile program that is inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions, as well as its ongoing support for terrorism, and because of the government's routine violations of human rights. "This administration has repeatedly imposed financial penalties and imposed sanctions against Iran because of that behavior," Earnest said. "We’ve got plenty of authority and we’re not shy about using it, but we’ll take a look at the bill that’s been passed by Congress and we’ll let you know what the President decides to do with it." The House passed the bill on Nov. 15 (see 1611160004). According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (here), the legislation wouldn't affect direct spending or revenues, and would cost less than $500,000 each year and cost $1 million total from 2017 to 2021. That spending would be subject to the availability of appropriations, CBO said.